“We are drawing attention to the fact we have extended deterrence capabilities that we believe are important to demonstrate in the wake of recent North Korean rhetoric,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement, even as he acknowledged that such flights “are routine.”

I was going to say, I don't think there is any B-52 crew in the USAF which would trust they could overfly North Korea and not be at an extremely high risk of being shotdown and killed, unless it was in a full combat raid with active fighter support and SAM suppression aircraft.

Quoting rfields5421 (Reply 2):
I was going to say, I don't think there is any B-52 crew in the USAF which would trust they could overfly North Korea and not be at an extremely high risk of being shotdown and killed, unless it was in a full combat raid with active fighter support and SAM suppression aircraft.

A B052 isn't going to fly over North Korea unless there was some heavy combat going on already. Looking at the initial activity before going into Iraq - especially taking out radars. Cruise missiles and stealth bombers would be first. But the BUFF still looks like a massive, powerful war fighter.

Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 7):While I do see that appeasement is always a bad strategy, somehow I wonder whether this is really necessary. But maybe its the only language Kim understands.

Sort of. It shows the US are listening to their posturing and taking it seriously to a degree. DPRK has been engaging in this sort of kindergarten tactics for years, making some violent threats and demanding attention, lest it just becomes another one in the row of dictatorships around the world

The problem is that if NK´s government feels that their sabre rattling will not be taken serious anymore that they will feel the need to back it up with military action, even if it is only to save face in front of their domestic audience.

Quoting rfields5421 (Reply 10):
Many folks forget that Japan has said they will take first strike offensive action against North Korea if they develop nuclear weapons and a delivery capability.

With WHAT?

I mean, I respect the JSDF, don't get me wrong. They have a fairly decent little "self defense force" (read: military) with some excellent equipment. But let's not kid ourselves here, they are not a first-strike armed force.

I guess I'm being somewhat facetious since I know of Japan's equipment and know the capabilities exist to strike first, if they wanted, but... I just have a hard time wrapping my head around that given their doctrine. Where did you see stuff like that reported?

Japan changed the definition of 'defensive combat' back about late 2003, especially in view of some of the ballistic missiles sold by North Korea to Iran, Egypt, Syria and Libya. Some of those missiles have been proven quite capable of hitting targets in Japan.

In every 'crisis' during the Bush administration, Japan has been strongly anti-North Korean.

Japan apparently believes that any North Korean action against the US and South Korea will not be limited to the Korean peninsula. That US military bases in Misawa, Hiroshima, Sasebo, Okinawa and the Kanto Plain will be primary targets.

A key strategy for North Korea would be to eliminate Japan as a forward staging base and logistics support facility.

That would mean strikes at Yokota, Yokosuka, Yokohama, Zama and Atsugi.

Which would certainly lead to heavy casualties among Japanese if the missiles were accurate, and possibly tens of thousands if they are not extremely accurate.

Quoting rfields5421 (Reply 13):Which would certainly lead to heavy casualties among Japanese if the missiles were accurate, and possibly tens of thousands if they are not extremely accurate.

Assuming the North Koreans use conventional weapons; the North Koreans have been able to miniaturize chemical and biological weapons for use on their missiles. The Japanese have been redeploying their Patriot missile batteries to defend key areas, along with upgrading their AEGIS destroyers for BMD duties.

While the Buff movement is a good deterrence, I am most curious and disappointed in China's position. Maybe they know more about DPRK Tantrums than we do so they are playing it chill, or they don't seem to take this very seriously doing an active part to defuse the situation. If China really does not want American Influence around the Korean peninsula, they should take over this themselves then or at least take a greater role besides pleading for calm. Although they get credit for approving the recent sanctions.

Worst comes to worst, DPRK has food cahes stored at various part of the country for their soldiers. Bust up or contaminate those and all 4 million strong will starve and run out of energy and zeal to fight. Then they'll know what its like to treat their own people that manner.

As long as people are monitoring this properly without any mis queues especially from the US, hopefully it will settle down.

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